Betty (Mears) Kareckas, 67, School Adminstrative Assistant

Betty (Mears) Kareckas, 67, a lifelong resident of Haverhill, passed away peacefully with her family by her side on Thursday, March 26, at her home.

She was born, Mary Elizabeth Mears, Sept. 6, 1947, the daughter of the late Frederick Warren Mears and Mary Eileen (Shanahan) Mears.She attended Haverhill public schools and was a graduate of Haverhill School, class of 1965. She later attended Northern Essex Community College to sharpen her bookkeeping and administrative skills.

Kareckas was employed in the Haverhill Public School System as an administrative assistant for more than 20 years. She ended her career at the Golden Hill School, and previously she spent many years at the Walnut Square School. She began her employment out of High School, at Toomey Ford in Amesbury. As she began raising her family, she was employed at the Merrimack Valley National Bank, and later at Western Electric, North Andover. She also worked for many years at the family business, Mears Tractor Sales in Plaistow.

She married Timothy F. Kareckas Oct. 31, 1970. Together they raised two sons, and were always surrounded by the love of her extended family, all of whom lived as neighbors on the old Mears Farm. She was the backbone of their relationship, and she was all about family, and as her final days approached no one left her alone. She was cared for with dignity and respect as she gave to others all of her life.

Besides her husband of 44 years, she leaves two sons, Timothy W. Kareckas and his wife, Heather, of Greendale, Ind., and Charles A. “Chuck” Kareckas, of Haverhill; two brothers; William A. Mears and his wife, Janice, and Frederick Mears and his wife, Audrey; two sisters, Ann Helps and her significant other, Timothy Caradonna, and Jean Cook and her husband, Gary, all of Haverhill. She also leaves two granddaughters, Alexandria Kareckas and Kalle Kareckas and several nieces, nephews and friends.

Friends and family are invited to call Sunday from 2 to 6 p.m. at the Kevin B. Comeau Funeral Home, 486 Main St. Haverhill. Funeral services and burial are private.